Hills above Ken Caryl Valley, JeffCo Feb 20

[David Suddjian]

On 2/20 I had a nice hike up into the NW corner of the Ken Caryl Ranch (no open public access). I found all three accipiters, with an adult female Northern Goshawk providing the highlight as she swooped up to perch in a Douglas-fir, and then flew out and soared nearby. Such a powerful bird! A Northern Pygmy-Owl that had been calling in the stand of trees fell silent with the goshawk's arrival. I was impressed to hear three other Nor. Pygmy-Owls at other spots during the day. 

Red Crossbills (Type 2) were uncommon and seemed to be focused on Douglas-firs (which have an abundant cone crop here now) but were all in association with Ponderosa pines (most with no cones). Pine Siskins and Red-breasted Nuthatches were numerous in the Douglas-fir forest, and I detected one Golden-crowned Kinglet, a species that is relatively rare at Ken Caryl Ranch. A Dusky Grouse strolling on a slope with open forest and a lot of rocks was a treat. And a Golden Eagle turned the tables to dive bomb a Red-tailed.

David Suddjian

Ken Caryl Valley

Littleton, CO